Guide device



Jan. 4, 1938.

s. FINDLATER GUIDE DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .lnvenlor: 6TE1/EN50N fiNQL/QTEE,

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Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,104,111 GUIDE DEVICE Stevenson Findlater, McKeesport, Pa., assignor to National Tube Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 12, 1936, Serial No. 100,536

2 Claims. (CI. 80-51) This invention relates to rolling mills, and more particularly to guide devices therefor.

In processing metal work-pieces in a rolling mill, and particularly'thattype of mill. wherein the work-piece is rotated on its axis while being moved longitudinally thereof, as, for instance, in

the manufacture of .pipesand tubes it is very important that careful guidance be effected within close tolerances in order to prevent whipping which seriously impairs the results obtained. In view of the fact that the work-pieces in contemplation are of considerable length, the provision of numerous guides is necessary. These guides must be frequently changed to accommodate various sections that are to be rolled.

It is accordingly among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved guide device which is laterally adjustable to accommodate work-pieces which vary over a wide range as to section, or size, and one which reduces to a considerable extent the deleterious stresses imparted by the work-piece.

Another object is the provision of an improved device of the class described which may be easily and inexpensively installed on mills of existing design.

The foregoing and other objects will be appar ent after referring more particularly to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure2 is an end elevation on the line 11-11 of Fi e 1.

' Figure 34s an enlarged elevation of a detail. Figure 41s a plan of the detail of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate suitable side shaft it carries an outboard pinion 6 adjacent the side frame member 2. An elongated shaft 8 is rotatably carried by the side frame member 2 and has secured thereon a plurality of pinions 9, each of which engages a pinion 6 on one of the shafts 5', thus enabling the synchronous rotation of'the latter. The elongated shaft 8 is rotated in any suitable manner. An eccentric disk angles with respect to their axes.

A semi-cylindrical guide trough' I2 is mounted in each of the grooves ii for guiding the workpieces being processed in the mill. These guide troughs 12 are of gradually varying cross-sec tional size and are provided with flared-inlet ends it. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the troughs I! may be of other than semi-cylindrical shape, depending, of course, upon the section of the work-piece being rolled. 15 From the foregoing it will be seen that upon rotation of the elongated shaft 8 and consequent rotation of the shafts 5, 'the eccentric disks ill will be rotated in such manner that different sized guide troughs i2 will be brought into longitudinal alignment with the "pass line of the mill. That is to say, the guide troughs I! are so constructed and arranged on successive eccentric members in as to provide the, same size in any given alignment thereof, the size being simultaneously changed for all aligned troughs by rotation of the eccentric disks l0.

According to the foregoing construction and arrangement of elements'it will be seen that the stresses imparted to the guide troughs I! by the helically advancing work-piece along the passline of the mill will be communicated to the bearings A neither axially of the mill nor in a direction which is normal thereto. This not only reduces the deleterious effects of such stresses but also permits the disposition of the bearings l such that they will not be directly under'the advancing work-piece and hence susceptible to injury accruing from the heat thereof or scale falling therefrom.

An elongated shaft 20 is rotatably mounted on the side frame member 2 and carries a plurality of laterally extending arms-22, each of which is adapted for disposal over one of the eccentric disks ill for cooperation with its various guide troughs l2. The under side of the extended end of .each of the laterally extending arms 22 is arms 21 are connected by links 28 to conventional kick-oi!" arms 29 which are pivotally supported intermediate their ends by brackets 30, the latter being mounted on the side frame 3. These kick-oil" arms 29 extend below the "pass line" of the mill and are grooved on their extended ends.

In operation, the shaft 8 is suitably rotated to dispose the desired guide troughs 12 in alignment with the mill. The shaft 20 is partially rotated (by any suitable means) to position the laterally extending arms 22 over the guide troughs l2, whereby they cooperate with the latter to confine the work-piece. After the work-piece has been processed, the laterally extending arms 22 are raised by partial rotation of the shaft 22; and the shaft 28 is partially rotated by a motor 3| driving through gears 32 and 33 to elevate the laterally extending kick-oil arms 29, whereby the work-piece is raised from the guide troughs and permitted to roll laterally therefrom.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto. since various modifications may be made o! rigidly connected crank-arms 21. These crankwithout departing from the scope of my invention, as defined by the following claims.

1. A guide for metal working mills comprising at least one rotatable element having its axis 5 at an angle of approximately degrees with respect to the pass line of said mill, said'rotatable element having a plurality of different sized guide troughs on its periphery and disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with re- 10 spect to the axis of said rotatable element, each of said guide troughs being capable of movement into longitudinal alignment with the pass-line of said mill.

2. A guide for metal working mills comprising -15 a plurality of rotatable elements, each having its axis of rotation at an angle or approximately 45 degrees to the pass line of said mill, said rotatable elements having a plurality of different sized guide troughs on its periphery and disposed at 0 an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the axis of said rotatable element, each of said'guide troughs being capable of movement into longitudinal alignment with the pass-line of 5 said mill.

- STEVENSON FINDLATER. 

